Mine car sealing device



Dec. 4, 1951 H. w. SANFORD MINE CAR SEALING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1947 Dec. 4, 1951 H. w. SANFORD MINE CAR SEALING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April '7, 1947 Dec. 4, 1951 H. w. SANFORD 2,577,040

MINE CAR SEALING DEVICE Filed April 7, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Dec. 4, 1951 MINE CAR SEALING DEVICE Hugh W. Sanford, Knoxville, Tenn., assignor to The Sanford Investment Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application April 7, 1947, Serial No. 739,796

12 Claims. 1

I This invention relates to improvements in mine car sealing devices, particularly for sealing the drop bottom doors of mine cars used for transporting coal or other materials from a loading point to a point of discharge, where such materials are discharged through the bottom of the car upon release of the drop bottom doors therem.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application, Serial No. 563,885, filed November 17, 1944, now Patent No. 2,558,391, dated June 26, 1951.

In mine cars used for the transportation of coal and other loose lading, it is important that the drop bottom doors be sealed at the opposite elges thereof against the leakage of coal between the edges of the doors and the side sills of the car. It is diflicult to form the doors so these will fit so closely to the inside faces of the side sills as to prevent the leakage of loose coal therebetween. Consequently, special provision should be made for sealing the space between the edges of the doors and the side sills against the leakage of coal therebetween, but no adequate means for this purpose has been available heretofore with respect to large capacity mine cars of modern design.

It is one object of this invention to improve the construction of mine cars, especially of large capacity, by providing sealing means for the lateral edges of the doors which is in cooperating relation therewith even though applied to the side wall flare plates of the car close to the track gauge line. This provides a very wide door opening which is sealed effectively at its lateral edges and yet increases materially the capacity of the car.

.A further object of the invention is to provide complete sealing of the drop bottom door from end to end thereof, not only between the wheel hoods, but also along the inside faces or vertical walls of the hoods. All large capacity four-wheel drop bottom door cars have vertical walls on wheel hoods with respect to which the doors must be sealed, as well as between the hoods, for effective sealing of the doors.

"This object may be accomplished by the Wide spacing of the side sills close to the track gauge line, which will locate the flare plates below the tops of the wheels. These flare plates may be provided with extensions or attachments that project inwardly in overlapping relation with the lateral edges of the doors to seal the edges against the leakage of coal therebetween.

Certain embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal diagrammatical view of a car to which the invention may be applied. Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross section therethrough.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the car showing a modified form thereof.

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section therethrough on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6a is a detail cross section of one of the deflector sealing plates, on the line 6a-6a in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the other deflector sealing plate on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing another modified form of car.

Fig. 8 is a cross section therethrough on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail cross section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a similar view on the line llll0 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a detail cross section showing still another modified form of sealing means.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the car body is shown as formed of a pair of opposed side channels I turned inward at opposite sides of the car and forming the upper portions of the side Walls of the car. Extending downwardly and inwardly from the side channels I are side flare plates 2 riveted to the lower edge portions of the side channels I, as shown in Fig. 3, embraced with respect thereto by inside gusset brackets 3 which bear against the side channels I and the flaring side plates 2 at the inner faces thereof.

The inner edges of the side flare plates 2 are secured to longitudinal side sill members 4 that are shown to be of modified channel form having an out-turned flange at the upper edge jointed to the adjacent side flare plate 2 by rivets, and an out-turned reinforcing side flange at the lower edge of saidsill member 4. Each side flare plate 2 projects inwardly beyond the attached sill member 4 to form an extended lip, designated 5, to increase the sealing relation thereof with the adjacentdoor as hereinafter described. 7

The side plates 2 are braced externally by gusset brackets 6 each of which, extends up-- wardly from the side sill member 4 to'the under edge of the side channel I. These gusset members 6 are spaced at intervals along the length of the car sufficiently to brace the side flare plates 2, and preferably are at the same points asthe inside gusset brackets 3.

ner faces. of the beams-T and extend downwardlyv and inwardly therefrom, being joined to oppositeends of the side flare plates 2 and sill members A and cooperating therewith to enclose the drop bottom opening in the car, as will beevident,

from Fig. 1.

The combined bumper and draw bar structure at each opposite end of the carcomprises a transverse channel member supported at the top and bottom, respectively, by: plates H! and that extend lengthwise of the beam 1 and are joined at opposite ends to the side channels I,- the top plate Ii] being spaced downwardly from they-uppenedges of the side; channels but-braced byangle. bars 1 I21 The. bumper: is--mount.ed;:be-

tween. the'plates I01. and H, asindicatedat-gll.

enclosed. by a yoke, l4 that receivesr-the; draft pin l5.

Securedqat the under side ofreach1opposite end of the car bodyissan: upper blockz lB'sea-ted on. a'universal mounting Ht of 'a lower 'blocki:l.8.

The upper and lower blocks Wand l8--are'zcon.-e-

nected' togetherbya king pin. for relative swinging movement-about the axis of. the-king pin and" also for limited universal movement.

Theblock is fixed upon atruck:- structure,

designated generally at 20, having mountings for a pa-ir'of transverse axles 2| on which wheels 22 are mounted at opposite ends of the axles. This: truck including the wheels and axles, supports.

an end ofthe carthereon, but is capable: of bodily swinging movement relative to: the-body portion of the car to accommodate for curves in the track in the usual manner.

Also interposed-between the truck 26 andzthe transverse plate structure is a side bearing on each opposite sideof the supporting blockstructure l6-l-8. side-bearing block II, in position to bear-upon a bearing plate 20*, as'shownin Fig. 2.

The space between the sides and-ends of'the This lateral'bearing comprises a car is adapted to be opened for-dischargeofthe" lading therethrough, but is normally closed by twobatteries of three doors each, in-the'formillustrated, which-batteries of doors are-indicated generally in Fig. 1, bythe numerals 23 and 24-, a-t-the forward and rearward portions of the ca-r. Each battery of doors includes forward;

middle and rearward; doors 2 5; 2 G and 2 1;'-pivotally' supported at their forward edgesror downward .uwmging movement to dumping positions." The freeedgesof the" forward and; middle doors,- in" the form shown, are supported upon the hinge;

edges:- ofythe next succeeding rearward door;

which latter, nevertheless, is slidable en-dwise onits-pivot;to release; the supported-edge of the, next forward" door: for dropping when the rearward door has dropped,

Whereas the; construction here; referred to corn;-

prises overlapping" doors which operate in 1-2-3 orderas frequently used heretofore, the same generalcar construction could be used-"in aca-rhaving drop bottom doors which mutually support eachother in any of thevarious fashions thathave been in use heretofore orwhich may, in 'fact'; be relatively independent of each other.

Fig. 3, and extends transversely substantially to said side sill members in relatively close relation therewith. Each of the doors 252'I has an upstanding flange 28 along the edge thereof substantially in sealing relation with the adjacent sill member 4, but overlapped at the top by the edge portion 5 of the sloping side flare wall 2. Thisconstructi'oneliminates.the longitudinal leak crack whichhas'been in use heretofore, existing between the edge of the door and the adjacent sill, which would allow some coal to leak from thedoors in closed positions.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lateral flare plates 2 extend upward from the upper edges of the sill members-4- at a very low level, while the sill members 4' are disposed with their inner edges in veryclose relation to the inner faces of the track wheels 22, and therefore very close thetrack gauge line. This provides for an increased width of drop bottom door which, in the; form illustratedii. is approximately three inches'less than the=-track gauge; thus providing a large capacity can The lateral'edges of the drop. bottom. dOOISi'Will' be disposed very-close to-the; base: of theyrails when the; doors are dropped; If'necessary; thei inneredges of the basesof-the railsmaybe trimmed offon the'bin side at the point of dumping to allow increased.

clearance for the doors. This arrangement locates-the upright webrof the sill? member 4 at the lateral edge of the. door opening in an upright longitudinal plane located very close to the inner-face of the wheels 22; and at a point outside the inner edge of the wheel-hub", as-

shown in Fig; 2.

The free: edge of the door-2T of eachbattery of: doorsis adapted to be latched for release when desiredby latching means that may be releasedfrom a point externally-of the car. Preferably such latching means is adapted to be actuated from a point beneath the carby a tripping devicemounted in the track in position to engage and operate each latchas'the car passes thereover. While the latch device itself may be of any suitable or desirable construction, I have shown as one form of latchesfor this type of-car latch devices that are mounted to move transversely, rather than longitudinally, of the car, as designatedrespectively at 30- and 3| in Fig. l.

The latch devices 30 aremounted on a transverse plate 32 which extends from side-to-side of thecar and is supported at opposite ends thereof by the side sill membersA; The plate 32 is located beneath a cross;tie and shieldangle '33' that extends betweenthe-side plates 2, with andtherefore: close to thetrack gauge lines.

This providesza Very large capacity car. At the same: time; leakage is prevented between the lateral edges of" the door and the, inside, faces.

of the side sills 4 due to the, overlapping relation ofthe projecting edge portions 5 with the upturned flanges 28 formed on the drop bottom.

doors; This sealing action is accomplished directly by an extension of the side wing bottoms projecting inside thevertical plane of, the inside wall of thesill structure over the sealing flange of the door;

The invention is shown in Figs. 4 to 6 as applied to a four-wheel mine'car of the character in which the doors close in-'1-2'-3-' order, but the of the car includes side wall flare plates 45 which extend inwardly between the hoods 44 and are secured to the upper flanges of the side sills 43. The planes of the side wall flare plates 45 out through the wheels 41, as shown in Fig. 5, to locate the side wall flare plates 45 at low levels for large capacity.

The doors are shown at 46, 47 and 48, respectively, pivotally mounted at 49 and 50 for downward swinging movement. to open positions.

These doors in this form of the invention are adapted also for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the pivots 49 and B for inter-engagement and locking action. The sliding movement of the doors lengthwise may be accomplished by a wedging element 5| shown as in position to engage the free edge of the door 4! to cause lengthwise sliding movement of the latter.

The bottoms of the doors are shown as extending substantially horizontal and flat. Each door extends laterally between the side sills 43 and has an up-turned lateral flange 52 in close proximity to the inner face of each side sill 43, as shown in Fig. 5, but overlapped by an inwardly extending portion 53 of the adjacent side Wall flare plate 45, which portion 53 forms aroof over the crack at each edge of the door. This portion 53 is shown as spaced above the upper edge of the flange 52 at each side of the door, for convenient operation of the door closing device which usually requires a raising of the door above its normal position before the door is latched. Nevertheless, the flare plate extension 53 in coaction with the up-turned flange 5'2 effectively prevents the leakage of coal between the side sill 53 and the adjacent edge of the door.

As shown in Fig. 4, the side wall flare plates 45 extend only between the wheel hoods 44. For efiective sealing of the side edges of the door throughout its length, additional sealing devices must be provided inside the hoods, except where the hoods on opposite sides of the car are connected together through an axle covering generally indicated at 54. Accordingly, deflector sealing plates are provided inside the wheel hoods at the respective opposite ends of the door, as indicated respectively at 55 and 56, extending laterally from. the vertical faces thereof at an angle to shed the coal over the flanges 52 of the door edges and to prevent leakage at the edges. These deflector plates 55 and 56 are secured to the inner walls of the hoods and are located substantially at'the same height and angles as the projecting portions 53 of the side wall flare plates, and therefore are in the same relation to the door flanges at this point as the wing bottom extensions are intermediate the wheel hoods.

The invention is shown in Fig. 7 as applied to overlapping doors hinged for swinging movement without longitudinal bodily movement in moving to open and closed positions. This eliminates the necessity for the wedge device shown at 5| in Fig. 4. Moreover, the door 6| in Fig. '7 is shown as curved longitudinally instead of being flat. This longitudinal sloping of the door through most of its entire length would require substantial trimming and weakening if flanges were formed on the opposite edges thereof. Consequently, such flanges are provided in this form by welding a bar 62 to each opposite edge of the door 6|, which bars 62 are so attached to the edges of the door that the upper edges of the bars will be substantially horizontal through most of their lengths, and spaced downwardly from the projections 63 on the side wing bottoms. The deflector plate 64 is in longitudinal alignment with the deflector portion 63 at the left in Fig. 7, while a deflector plate 65 at the right follows the contour of the bar 62 which slopes upwardly and horizontally as indicated. These deflector sealing plates 64 and 65 are secured to the inner faces of the wheel hoods.

. Otherwise, the form shown in Figs. 7 to 10 operates and functions substantially the same as described above.

A further modification is shown in Fig. 11 in which the side wall flare plate has a downwardly projecting portion 13 which overlaps vertically the side bar 12 on the door H. This may be desirable when especially fine material is being transported as a further means of preventing leakage or as desired.

In four-wheel drop bottom mine cars of the character shown in Figs. 4 to 11, in which the wheels are recessed deeply in the side wall flare plates, it is desirable to seal the edges of the doors approximately throughout the length thereof, including the portions along the inner faces of the wheel hoods. This is made possible by the deflector sealing plates 55, 56, E4 and 65, provided on the inner faces of the wheel hoods.

Even though the inner edge of the deflector plate is spaced above the upper edge of the door flange or bar, as shown in Figs. 5, 6a, 6, 9 and 10, the deflector plate will serve efiectively to seal the edges of the door. The angle of repose of any flne material that may be hauled in the car is such that it will not reach the edge of the door flange or bar after passing over the deflector edge.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention except as specified in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle having a lading body with side sill structures separated and having a bottom opening therebetween for the discharge of lading therethrough, wheels for supporting the lading body, longitudinally spaced deeply recessed wheel hood coverings in the lading body on opposite sides thereof over the wheels, said body having side wall flare plates between the wheel hood coverings, the combination of a door for closing said bottom opening and extending along the vehicle between the longitudinally spaced hood coverings and between opposite disposed hood coverings, said door having upstanding edge portions in close proximity to the side sill structures, and. deflector plates carried by the flareplates and by the inner faces of the hood coverings overlapping said door edge portions for sealing the edges of the door.

2. In a vehicle having a lading body with side sill structures separated and having a bottom opening therebetween for the discharge of lading therethrough, wheels for supporting the lading body, longitudinally spaced wheel hood coverings in the lading body on opposite sides thereof over the wheels, said body having side wall flare plates between the wheel hood coverings, the combinaenemas tion. oidoor means: for closingrsaid': bottom open:-- ing and. extending-along" the vehicle and between oppositely-disposedwheel hood coverings,. said;

door means-havingedge portions in' close PIOX".

imity-to;the side sill structures; and means car ried- ,by the. wheel hood; coveringsrand extending" inwardly therefrom in overlapping, relationiwith the-edgeportions. of the doormeans; for sealing;

saideolge-portions;

3.: In .a vehicle having-a ladingjbody with side sill. structures separated and having a bottom opening therebetween for the dischargeof lading therethrough', Wheels: for supporting the ladingv body;.longitudinallyispaced deeply recessedwheel hood coverings in the lading body on opposite sides: thereof over the wheels. said body having sidewall'flare plates between the-wheel hood c0verings, the combination of doormeans-for closing;

saidi bottom: opening and extending along the vehicle; between. longitudinally spaced wheel hood. coverings and between oppositely-disposed hoodcoverings, said door having edge portions inclose. proximity to the side sill structures; and defi'ectorplates carried by the inner faces of the wheel hood coverings and extendinginwardly in overlappingrelation with theadjacent-edges of the1door: means and along said, edges for sealing saidjedges of the door.

4; In avehicle having a lading-body with side sill. structures separated and havinga bottom opening'therebetween for the discharge of lading therethrough, wheels for supporting the lading body, longitudinally spaced deeply recessedwheel hood coverings initheslading body on opposite sides thereof" over. the wheels, said; body having: side wall flare plates between the'wheel. hood coverings, the combination of. door means i for closing said bottom. opening. and, extending along the vehicle between longitudinally-spaced wheel hood coverings and between: oppositely disposed hood coverings, said door having edge portions in close proximity to the side sillstructures, and deflector plates carried by the inner faces of the wheel hood coverings and extendinginwardly' in overlapping relation with the adjacent edges-of the L: door means and along said. edges for'sealing said edgesof the door, said side wall flare platesextending inwardly of the sidesillmeansbetweenthe longitudinally spaced hood coveringswith the inner edgesthereofsubstantially in longitudinal alignment, with the "inner edges of thedeflector platesand cooperating therewith" for sealing said edges of the door means;

5: In a dropbottom minecar, the combination of a lading. body having side sill structures-separated and having a bottomopeningtherebetween. for the-discharge of lading therethrough, wheels for supporting theladingt-body; said body having.

side wall flare plates extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper edge. portions ofthe side: sill structures, wheel hoods in the side wall flare platesextending over the wheelswith inner faces toward the: interior of. the lading body;

a plurality of doors spaced-lengthwise otthe car. and interconnected for jointopeningand-closingl movements, each of said doors being hingedabout a transverse axis and having themaior portion:

of. the. body thereof substantially flat andin. a

plane extending lengthwise of the car and. with} upstanding'edge portions substantially horizontal.

in closed. position and spaced in close proximity to the side sill structures, and meansat the inner edges of the side wall flare plates forming inward continuations thereof with approximately hori-- zontalinner. edgespver-lapping the. opposite. edges ofsthe doors: for sealing. said edges of the; doors, and; additional. sealing means extending 5 along 3 spaced lengthwise of the car and interconnected for joint opening andclosing movement, eachof said doors being hinged about" atransverse axisv and having the major portion-of the body thereof. substantially fiat and in a plane extending lengthwise of the car and with upstanding edgeportions substantially horizontal in closed position and spaced in close proximity to the side sill. structures, each. of the side wall flare plates projecting inwardly from the side sill means with inner edge substantially horizontal, for sealing said edges of the doors.

7-; Ina vehicle having a lading body with side sill structures separated and having a bottom opening therebetween for the discharge of lading therethrough, wheels and axles for supporting the lading body, side wall flare plates and wheel hood coverings at opposite sides-of the body and connected with the side sill structures, doors for closing said bottom opening and extending "1 lengthwise of the vehicle beneath the axles,

means separate from the axles for'pivotally supporting the doors on the body for downward swinging movement about transverse axes, said doors having the opposite edge portions thereof in close proximity to the side sill structures and extendingbetween the opposite wheel hood coverings, and means forming deflecting surfaces extending inwardly in overlapping relation with said opposite edge portions of the doors along the inner edges of the side wall flare plates and along the inner faces of the wheel hood covermgs'.

8'. In a vehicle having a lading body with side sill structures separated and having a bottom opening therebetween for the discharge of lading therethrough, wheels and axles for supporting the lading body, side wall flare plates and wheel hood coverings at opposite sides of the body and connected with the side sill structures, doors for closing said bottom opening and extending lengthwise of the vehicle beneath the axles, means separate from the axles for pivotally supporting the doors on the body for downward swinging movement about transverse axes, said doors having the opposite edge portions thereof in close proximity to the side sill structures and extending between the opposite wheel hood coverings with cracks therebetween, and roof surfaces extending inwardly from the side sill structures and the wheel hood coverings in overlapping relation with said cracks substantially throughout the length of the doors whereby the lading will notleak from the lading body through said cracks when the doors are closed.

9. In a vehicle having a lading body with side sill structures separated and having a bottom opening therebetween for the discharge of lading therethrough, wheels and axles for supportingv thelading body, side wall flare plates and wheel hood. coverings. at opposite sides of the body and connected with the side sill structures, doors for closing said bottom opening and extending lengthwise of the vehicle beneath the axles, means separate from the axles for pivotally supporting the doors on the body for downward swinging movement about transverse axes, said doors having the opposite edge portions thereof in close proximity to the side sill structures and extending between the opposite wheel hood coverings, tie plates extending between opposite wheel hood coverings over the axles, and means forming roof surfaces extending laterally of the side sill structures at each opposite side of the lading body in overlapping relation with a door thereof and continuously from one tie plate substantially to another tie plate along the inner edge portions of the side wall flare plates and of the wheel hood coverings.

10. In a drop bottom car for running on track rails and adapted for discharge of its lading between oppositely disposed track rails, a lading body having a central longitudinal opening, oppositely disposed and longitudinally extending side sill structures with a central longitudinal opening therebetween for discharge of the lading, at least one drop door structure which is pivotally supported about a transverse axis and which is substantially horizontal in a closed position, wheels for supporting the lading body, the sill structures extending inside of the wheels and in close proximity thereto and having inner portions in close proximity to the adjacent outer portions of the drop door structure when in closed position with working clearance therebetween, said lading body having outwardly extending and upwardly sloping wing bottoms sealed with respect to the side sill structures adapted to shed the lading by gravity into the central opening upon release of the drop door structure, shielding means for the car wheels against contact with the lading of the car, and a roof over said openings at opposite edges of the door structure and extending along the inner edge portions of the sloping wing bottoms and of the shielding means, whereby the lading will not leak from the lading body through said opening when said door structure is closed, said roof being a part of the lading body structure.

11. In a vehicle having a lading body with side sill structures separated and having a bottom opening therebetween for the discharge of lading therethrough, wheels for supporting the lading body, side wall flare plates connected with the side sill structures and extending upwardly therefrom in planes which intersect the wheels below the upper edges thereof, said side wall flare plates having wheel hood coverings connected therewith extending over the wheels, a door for closing the bottom opening and extending along the vehicle and between the side sill structures and sealing means extending lengthwise of the lading body along the side sill structures and the wheel hood coverings in lateral overlapping relation with the edge portions of the door for sealing said edge portions.

12. In a vehicle having a lading body with side sill structures separated and having a bottom opening therebetween for the discharge of lading therethrough, oppositely disposed wheels for supporting the lading body, axles for the wheels and extending therebetween, side wall flare plates connected with the side sill structures and extending upwardly therefrom in planes which intersect the wheels below the upper edges thereof, said side wall flare plates having oppositely disposed wheel hood coverings connected therewith and extending over the wheels, hoods over the axles and connected with the wheel hood coverings, doors for closing the bottom opening and extending along the vehicle and between the side sill structures, and sealing means extending lengthwise of the lading body along each of the sill structures including the wheel hood coverings connected therewith from one of the axle hoods substantially to the next adjacent axle hood on the corresponding side of the lading body and substantially throughout the length of the bottom opening.

HUGH W. SANFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 987,877 Harrigan Mar. 28, 1911 990,380 0rd Apr. 25, 1911 1,108,327 Burnett Aug. 25, 1914 1,762,667 Sanford et al June 10, 1930 1,826,367 Sanford Oct. 6, 1931 1,851,214 Sanford et a1 Mar. 29, 1932 1,955,868 Wine Apr. 24, 1934 2,399,708 Sanford May 7, 1946 

